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Minecraft ban reports investigated by Microsoft | Minecraft ban reports investigated by Microsoft |
(1 day later) | |
Minecraft owner Microsoft is investigating reports the Turkish government is preparing to ban the game, the BBC understands. | Minecraft owner Microsoft is investigating reports the Turkish government is preparing to ban the game, the BBC understands. |
A Turkish Family and Social Policies Ministry study said the game promoted violence, according to local media. | A Turkish Family and Social Policies Ministry study said the game promoted violence, according to local media. |
There were conflicting reports about what action the government was planning to take as a result. | There were conflicting reports about what action the government was planning to take as a result. |
Some said it would ask a court to ban the game, others that it would ask Microsoft to edit it. | Some said it would ask a court to ban the game, others that it would ask Microsoft to edit it. |
According to the Haberturk newspaper, the ministry's report said: "Although the game can be seen as encouraging creativity in children by letting them build houses, farmlands and bridges, mobs [hostile creatures] must be killed in order to protect these structures. In short, the game is based on violence." | According to the Haberturk newspaper, the ministry's report said: "Although the game can be seen as encouraging creativity in children by letting them build houses, farmlands and bridges, mobs [hostile creatures] must be killed in order to protect these structures. In short, the game is based on violence." |
'Social isolation' | 'Social isolation' |
The report said some children could confuse Minecraft with the real world and be led to believe torturing animals would cause no pain, the newspaper reported. | The report said some children could confuse Minecraft with the real world and be led to believe torturing animals would cause no pain, the newspaper reported. |
It added the report was based on the experience of a nine-year-old and suggested playing Minecraft could lead to "social isolation". | It added the report was based on the experience of a nine-year-old and suggested playing Minecraft could lead to "social isolation". |
Haberturk reported the ministry's legal affairs department had been instructed to take the first steps towards banning Minecraft. | Haberturk reported the ministry's legal affairs department had been instructed to take the first steps towards banning Minecraft. |
But, according to Fatih Oke, a spokesman for the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC, a ban was "out of the question". | But, according to Fatih Oke, a spokesman for the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC, a ban was "out of the question". |
Mr Oke told Christian Science Monitor: "There will be no ban. | Mr Oke told Christian Science Monitor: "There will be no ban. |
"The game is not banned and is not going to be banned. | "The game is not banned and is not going to be banned. |
The Family and Social Policy Ministry does not have that kind of authority to ban any product. | The Family and Social Policy Ministry does not have that kind of authority to ban any product. |
"I understand that this is what has been said in the Turkish media, but it is incorrect. | "I understand that this is what has been said in the Turkish media, but it is incorrect. |
"The ministry can only work with complaints. | "The ministry can only work with complaints. |
"In this case, I am told there were numerous complaints from parents about Minecraft and its influence on children. | "In this case, I am told there were numerous complaints from parents about Minecraft and its influence on children. |
"The function of this ministry is to raise awareness." | "The function of this ministry is to raise awareness." |
The government would not be able to unilaterally ban the game, it would have to convince a court to do so. | The government would not be able to unilaterally ban the game, it would have to convince a court to do so. |
While Turkey is not noted for banning computer games, some websites have been taken down recently. | While Turkey is not noted for banning computer games, some websites have been taken down recently. |
Last year, access to both Twitter and YouTube was temporarily shut down, while Facebook was required to block some pages said to insult the Prophet Muhammad in January this year. | Last year, access to both Twitter and YouTube was temporarily shut down, while Facebook was required to block some pages said to insult the Prophet Muhammad in January this year. |
'Creative freedom' | 'Creative freedom' |
A spokesman for Mojang, which makes Minecraft under the Microsoft umbrella after the latter bought the game for $2.5bn (£1.68bn) in September 2014, would not comment directly on the reports. | |
He said: "Minecraft is enjoyed by many players in a wide variety of ways. | He said: "Minecraft is enjoyed by many players in a wide variety of ways. |
"Many enjoy the creative freedom that's presented by Minecraft and its tools, some are more interested by the opportunity to explore a landscape without boundaries and to go on exciting adventures with friends. | "Many enjoy the creative freedom that's presented by Minecraft and its tools, some are more interested by the opportunity to explore a landscape without boundaries and to go on exciting adventures with friends. |
"We encourage players to cooperate in order to succeed, whether they're building, exploring, or adventuring. | "We encourage players to cooperate in order to succeed, whether they're building, exploring, or adventuring. |
"The world of Minecraft can be a dangerous place: it's inhabited by scary, genderless monsters that come out at night. | "The world of Minecraft can be a dangerous place: it's inhabited by scary, genderless monsters that come out at night. |
"It might be necessary to defend against them to survive. | "It might be necessary to defend against them to survive. |
"If people find this level of fantasy conflict upsetting, we would encourage them to play in Creative Mode, or to enable the Peaceful setting. | "If people find this level of fantasy conflict upsetting, we would encourage them to play in Creative Mode, or to enable the Peaceful setting. |
"Both of these options will prevent monsters from appearing in the world." | "Both of these options will prevent monsters from appearing in the world." |
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